A Republican Fighting the Good Fight (non-fiction).

[Clarkie1]

June 1, 2006

LODI, Calif. -- It was 55 years ago this past Memorial Day that Pete McCloskey led the Marine rifle assault that won him the Navy Cross in the Korean War. And as dawn broke on the anniversary, the California Republican was once again charging uphill, only this time against many in his own party.

In one of the year's most improbable races, the 78-year-old former congressman has jumped back into politics in a long-shot bid to oust House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo here in Tuesday's Republican primary. Few give Mr. McCloskey much chance of success as he tours the San Joaquin Valley in his red, white and blue van.

But appearing Monday on Modesto talk radio -- "brought to you by Pure Joy Bakery and the Lunch Pail" -- the familiar gravel voice that took on Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War sounds a warning Republicans can't easily ignore.

"The Republican leadership in the House has abandoned ethics, they've abandoned the concept of balanced budgets, they've abandoned the concept of limited government," Mr. McCloskey tells his conservative host, Bill Mick. House leaders are "dead wrong" in resisting the recent Justice Department criminal search of one lawmaker's office, and Congress should begin to pull troops out of Iraq as proposed by his fellow Marine, Rep. John Murtha (D., Pa.).

"You're taking a chance," he admits of his candidacy. But he asks only to stay two terms and retire at age 82. "Ben Franklin was 82 when he talked a recalcitrant constitutional convention into adopting a Constitution in 1787," Mr. McCloskey says. "I'd like to go back and try to give them the Ben Franklin treatment."

Environmentalists, angered by Mr. Pombo's direction of the Resources Committee, are pouring money into efforts to help the McCloskey campaign, and Democrats hope the challenge will open the door for them against Mr. Pombo in the November election.

More at link:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114911946350468091-AZbjwxRW1hDM1HPQH6MLdjiqPGo_20060630.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

I'd wouldn't mind sharing a beer and some "civil discourse" with you, Pete. Here's to you.

:toast:

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FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE PER DU RULES.

[Old and In the Way]

1. He's a better man than the Party he wants to represent.

As much as I like him, a vote for Pete is a vote for more of the same. Pete would be ostracized by the Syndicate. His only value being a seat towards a continued majority.

[Clarkie1]

2. He's beating up on Pombo, and that's a good thing.

The primary is June 6th, and I'm hoping he does well. I'm not saying I would vote for him in the general election, much as I respect him.

[Clarkie1]

3. McCloskey to hold town-hall meeting on KGO (ABC) radio Monday 7pm.

KGO is the most listened to radio station in California.

This is getting really interesting that a Republican primary opponent is getting such big airplay out here. They are targeting decline to state voters in the ads as well as disenchanted Republicans, advertising this "town hall meeting" Monday. I'm smelling a possible big upset in the Republican primary out here for the corrupt incumbent.

I will vote for the Democratic candidate in November, but I'm looking forward to hearing McCloskey's townhall meeting on Monday.